Rockets near deal to trade Francis By JONATHAN FEIGEN Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle RESOURCES http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/front/2639475 A win-win situation for Rockets A bad deal. Francis is too valuable to Rockets Rockets need more changes that just Francis No longer "The Franchise," a clearly disappointed Steve Francis braced himself today to no longer be the Houston Rockets' point guard. Francis' agent, Jeff Fried, said today that Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson had told him the trade to the Orlando Magic for Tracy McGrady was not complete but was close. The deal could also include Kelvin Cato and Cuttino Mobley and bring forward Juwan Howard, but other than Francis and McGrady, players involved could change depending on salary-cap requirements that were still uncertain. "I spoke to Carroll and it was not a done deal," Fried said. "It's close. It's subject to a few contingencies." Fried said some maneuvering involving Tuesday's expansion draft was necessary to make the deal work. Because Steve Francis is considered a "base-year" player, by using a team such as the Bobcats that are under the salary cap, the Rockets could deal him without waiting until July 1 when his "base-year" status expires. Francis, however, left little doubt that he wanted to remain in Houston. "I thought we were really building something, something very good in Houston," Francis said. "Obviously that's not the direction they want to go. I still think we could be a very good team. "I'm not crying. Like I told you before, I know this is a business. Things like that happen. I'm not mad. I'm not upset. This is what they're trying to do. But like I said, I still think we could be something." Francis would not comment about going to the Magic, but Fried said Francis was not happy about playing for the Magic in an obvious rebuilding situation. "Steve's preference is to not go to Orlando," Fried said. "Steve's tasted the playoffs. (The Rockets) got a series under their belts. He was looking forward to going further with the same Rockets team but with another year of experience together. This is certainly not his preference. He loves Houston. "Steve loved the fans and his teammates. He's very friendly with Cuttino, but also pretty friendly with Yao. Many of us thought the beginnings of something there big with a great center and great point guard." McGrady, a two-time All-NBA first-team selection, led the NBA in scoring the past two seasons, averaging 28 points per game last season. Francis has averaged 19.3 points, 6.4 assists and 6.1 rebounds in his five seasons with the Rockets. He averaged 19.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 7.6 assists in the Rockets' first-round playoff loss to the Rockets. Only Francis, Magic Johnson, Oscar Robertson and Grant Hill have averaged 15 points, five assists and five rebounds in each of their first five seasons. Francis was acquired in a three-team, 11 player trade, then the largest in NBA history, in which the Rockets brought in Orlando to make the cap numbers work much as a third team might be needed now. Francis said he would is better prepared to handle trade talk than he was several years ago. But when asked if Francis could return to Houston if the trade falls apart, Fried said that Francis would certainly be scarred. "He's such a young man of conviction I'm sure it would have some effect on him," Fried said. "He also understands the NBA is a business. On balance, he would be able to be a professional and play for the team. We would be kidding ourselves to think it would not have some effect."
That's pretty heavy. Steve drove me crazy a lot of the time on the court (mostly with the unforced turnovers and the incredible inability to run a fast break), but I have a lot of personal affection for him. He could be a bonehead, but he was our bonehead. I'm happy about the trade but I'll miss him. And I wish him the best wherever he winds up. I think I'll always be a fan.
for sure.... unfortunately they probably wont get to much national airtime next year with the record they threw up, but who knows.... dammit, it feels like i'm ending all my posts with "but who knows...". oh well.
im gonna miss steve best of luck.. hes still the franchise no matter where he goes... thats a name he can live up to when many cant chin up!!
Steve is my favorite player, its gonna be hard to see him go, but I will get my LP and definitely watch wherever he goes.
I like Steve and I don't they they're rebuilding in Orlando with this deal. If Orlando drafts Okafur then doesn't their lineup remind you of some team. A good scoring backcourt and a pair of defensive big men patrolling the paint. If this trade goes through, then Orlando becomes Detroit-Lite. They would only need Okafur to develop an offensive game or a defensive stopper at the small forward to become BIG TIME contenders in the East. This is a good deal for both teams.
It may be awhile before you see a guy his size with that type of leaping, scoring, and dribbling ability. And you will never see one again with the Rockets.
without a doubt. You can never question Steve's heart, his intensity or his desire to win. He brought everything he had night in and night out.
Time for Steve to grow up. I wish him well in Orlando.....after we got Yao it was clear we needed to build around him, and Steve's game did not fit in that kind of system. He will do much better in Orlando....and so will Cat. Good luck to them both. DD
Yeah I definitely agree. It's nice that he wants to stay..but it's going to happen..so he needs to move on and just accept that he's been traded..and play well in Orlando. Good luck to him! I think they will do good as Magic...unless they're traded again. I'll watch the Magic more now. I want to buy all their jerseys...Rockets and Magic...I will miss Cato.
